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April 29, 2009
That Entrepreneurial Spirit
Gotta love hucksters, man. Check out the wonderful American audacity of this press release:
Cannabis Science Inc. Urges Health Officials to "Take Medical Cannabis Seriously"; Extends Offer of Prospective Life Saving Treatments for the H5N1 Bird Flu and H1N1 Swine Flu Strains
SAN FRANCISCO, Apr 29, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
As the H1N1 "Swine Flu" rapidly approaches pandemic, with new reports of outbreaks in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and the first reported death in the U.S., Cannabis Science Inc. (GFON 1.40, +0.15, +12.0%) CEO Steven Kubby urged public health officials around the world to "take medical cannabis seriously."
"For decades, governments have ridiculed and suppressed overwhelming evidence that cannabis has many important medical uses, but in the present public health crisis we should no longer tolerate this malign neglect. Our government ought to take medical cannabis seriously, just as voters in 14 States have voted overwhelmingly for medical marijuana legalization," Kubby urged.
Dr. Robert Melamede, CSI Director and Chief Science Officer observed, "Contemporary anti-viral medical technology is currently inadequate to meet the World's immediate challenges in dealing with the rapid mutations of the numerous influenza viruses."
On Monday, CSI offered to provide its whole-cannabis based lozenge to the U.S. government. Kubby stated, "Our approach is to address the body's symptomatic responses to the ravages of the disease, giving the body's natural recovery processes the time and opportunity to work. It's a palliative, not a cure, but represents Nature finding a way differently, through an effective, affordable application of a natural botanical preparation. Also, everyone should understand that there is no evidence that conventional flu medications will be effective against the current outbreak, and most of the people in the world will be unable to afford them in any case.
"Although U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, has declared a public health emergency and the World Heath Organization has raised its pandemic alert level to 4, no one can predict the ultimate course of outbreaks now on three continents. We do know that the world cannot deal with a 1918-scale pandemic, which remains a very real risk," Kubby added.
Don't get me wrong: I completely agree that governments need to take medical marijuana very seriously, indeed. And as you good folks know, I am a strong proponent of legalizing marijuana and reforming our nation's drug laws. I just have to chuckle, though, at the balls on this dude to be like: YO, I KNOW WEED ISN'T GONNA CURE YOUR PIG FLU... BUT WHAT THE HELL, AMIRITE?!?!?! Next up I wanna see Miller Lite send out a press release about how the only thing to do as we approach Level 6 on the WHO's pandemic scale is get a case, down some pops, and wait this fucker out.
Posted by caps at 05:03 PM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2009
DRAFT DAY
Yeah man!
I remember being 7 and watching the Bills draft Thurman Thomas. Even though it was sunny out and my mom wanted me to go outside I got sucked in to watching the draft and refused to budge. I didn't know any of the players - dudes, I was 7 - but I vividly remember ESPN's coverage of Thurman. They had a camera in his house, filming him and his family, and poor ol' Thurm was getting real upset because teams were snubbing him. He'd had a great college career at Oklahoma State, but had fucked up his knee his senior year, so teams were shook. As Thurman slipped out of the first round, he looked more and more sad and pissed off and tense. I remember being real happy that my team - the Buffalo Bills - were the ones who eventually called him up and let him know that they had selected him in the second round. It made him and his family look so happy. Now Thurman's in the Hall of Fame and today's the day we draft some more Hall of Famers.
Posted by caps at 12:07 PM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2009
Thursday PM
1. New song from RESTLESS PEOPLE - aka Tanlines + some of Professor Murder - called VICTIMLESS CRIME.
To me, this sounds like the soundtrack for an expertly edited montage of the secret video footage you didn't even know was being recorded all throughout the funnest summer you ever had in your 20s. Like video of these insanely fun times that weren't even recorded and/but hearing this you get to see it all again. Am I explaining this ok? WHAT I MEAN IS THIS IS THE SONG FOR THE VIDEO YEARBOOK OF YOUR HAPPIEST SUMMER OF THE LAST TEN YEARS, COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF SECRET IMAGINARY FOOTAGE: HAPPY AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME. I like it!
2. Speaking of Tanlines, video for their remix of Tough Alliance's "A New Chance."
3. Last but certainly not least --> "LIGHTNING FLASH LAND" is "FANTASTIC INTERACTIVE HIGH VOLTAGE MOVIES BY LIGHTING LARRY CARLSON," so check for it. These speak for themselves so click this now. Wow. Wow. Like Terry Gilliam x Jess x Flash x internet sidebar mortgage rodeo cowboys x field recording cut-ups x Twin Peaks x nature relaxation sleep tape. Or thereabouts. Quick screenshot:
Description is elusive but the effect is mesmerizing. Something about it kinda reminds me of Jonesy.
Via friend of el stence T. Cooper. Thanks!
Posted by caps at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)
FRIENDS 4EVER
Via my dude laflures aka Paul from the Internet, who found it over here.
Posted by caps at 11:49 AM | Comments (0)
April 22, 2009
Whoa!
dusk (4:40:36 PM): ummm, wow: http://sarien.net/
caps (4:45:05 PM): AWESOME!!!!!!
caps (4:45:08 PM): I was thinking -
caps (4:45:11 PM): when you sent it -
caps (4:45:19 PM): that SARIEN is of course the name of the aliens in SQ!
caps (4:45:22 PM): but DAMN!!!
dusk (4:45:33 PM): i know i know i know!
Posted by caps at 05:18 PM | Comments (0)
Monkey Fightin, M-F
Via TNR.
Posted by caps at 02:33 PM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2009
Tuesday PM
1. "Whom amongst you partakes in the art of search engine optimization and general internets traffic-directing? How's your web-page doing? I'm sure a lot of you use such as Google Analytics or whatnot. But what if you want a giant bowl-clock with pretty amazing lights that help you visualize your traffic fate? It's big and crazy and good."
2. Disney Will Eat Itself!
More here on "rotoscoping" from the UK's Daily Mail.
To be clear, I post this not in some "ooooo Disney's BUSTED" kinda way. I know the YouTube is called "Disney templates fail," but fuck all that. I'm sure animators have (a) known about this forever and (b) don't give a damn anymore, if they ever did. In a professional sense, who cares? No, I'm posting this because it was interesting to me, having not seen some of these scenes since I was small, to realize in retrospect the resonance those classic animated twirls and expressions of delight had within my young mind. When you're young, you're absorbing everything - even/especially Disney movies - as a template: This is how one smiles, this is how & when one dances, this is how & when & why one leaps around happily. So to see the precise motions replicated in not one but several of these movies makes me realize, all these years later, how deeply engraved (via then-imperceptible repetition) these movements were on my young brain. That smiling kitten/fox dancing with that smiling fox/cat in the technicolor nightclub!
2. Denver Post editorial board says: LEGALIZE IT!
[A]s recent U.S. presidents have shown, use of the drug, even when inhaled, doesn't in and of itself ruin a person's chance at achieving full and productive lives. Yes, pot users face risks as potentially as devastating as other drugs. So do drinkers of wine and beer.
But regulating the drug, as alcoholic beverages are regulated, can provide for prevention and therapy, while also starving the criminal element from this cash stream.
Marijuana also could be taxed, with the money earmarked to fund treatment programs for victims of truly dangerous drugs.
We did not support the successful effort to legalize minor marijuana possession in Denver, and we have not supported statewide ballot efforts to legalize the drug. The problem with local laws is that they conflict with federal laws and create legal headaches that further muck up the courts and jam prisons.
But our elected federal representatives could change all that. And they should.
3. Via Alex, 24 truly breathtaking images from NASA satellite Cassini as it continues on its extended mission to the outer reaches, still in good health and still broadcasting beauty back from the beyond! I've posted two below, but you should go see them all in their full glory.
Posted by caps at 01:24 PM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2009
Monday PM
Couple post-alien points of interest:
1. First, an anime-lookin animal gettin tickled. Via Finny:
2. Ok, back to Alien Day:
a.) Become a member of NORML for a one-day special membership fee of $4.20! NORML's doing good work - like this TV ad, running nationally today - so pitch in and help reform our country's unconscionably stupid marijuana laws.
b.) The former Seattle Chief of Police offers his thoughts on weed vs. alcohol.
c.) Andrew Sullivan's latest post re: the "Cannabis Closet" is heartbreaking and thus necessary to read.
3. Ok - last up - interesting Gizmodo post on differences between Sergeant Pepper in stereo and mono. The verdict? Mono wins. You may have already seen this, but if not, wanted to send it along.
4. Mad Decent's Major Lazer blasts off with "Hold The Line," the first official leak from the forthcoming album, dropped specially for today's alien music. Featuring Santigold & Lexx so check for it. Plus acc & instr so people can get up on it themselves.
Posted by caps at 06:14 PM | Comments (0)
FIFTH ANNUAL WEED ALIEN!
HOLY MOLY. THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALIEN HAS ARRIVED.
Count 'em: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and today's glorious fifth alien!
I for one salute our relaxed extraterrestrial kin! You know I love the alien: so genial (observing human protocol by proffering the burning marijuana cigarette to his company), so stylish (note the amazing technicolor alien v-neck shirt), so happy to have made it to Earth to enjoy our homeworld's leafy green vegetative lifeforms. He's smiling so big as our sun sets because he knows that we know that he comes in peace. Also because we commemorate his appearance in a wide variety of novelty items - for example, this choice garment - that amuse and delight his offspring on his visits home.
So to celebrate five years of mutually beneficial friendship between our kinds, I offer the following burnt digital offerings to serve as suitable soundtracking for any and all alien/human peace pipe ceremonies:
Busy Signal: Smoke Some Highgrade (YSI)
Freda Payne: I Get High (YSI)
Billy Boyo: One Spliff A Day (YSI) (YSI)
NORE: Half-Baked (YSI)
Styx: Come Sail Away (YSI)
The Penguins: Earth Angel (YSI)
Til next year, my alien friend... I'll keep watchin the sky!
Posted by caps at 11:15 AM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2009
Cool Mint: Saturday PM
I played Baltimora's "Tarzan Boy" last night and my man was like, what is this?!?!? And I was like, yo you don't you remember this from the Listerine bottle swinging through the jungle? And he was like, no sir. And that made me feel OLD AS HELL.
But, as I'm posting this up this morning, I realize that reading this could make some even older dude feel even OLDER, since I'm talking about it from a 1993 Listerine commercial and it came out in 1985! So: SORRY OLD DUDE!!!
At any rate, this is the jam. I don't ONLY know it from the ad, actually - in fact, I taped this off WKSE Kiss 98.5 (the number one HIT music station) one night when I was nine. At that point, I had a tiny, rectangular, black and chrome boombox - think it was an AIWA? - and I messed around with the PLAY/REC feature ("feature") all the time. Me and my sister would record ourselves talking and I would record songs off the radio when moved to do so. When "Tarzan Boy" came on, I was moved to do so. I listened to it a lot - it was probably my most successful radio-grab! It was my number one hit music.
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy (YSI)
Posted by caps at 01:19 PM | Comments (0)
April 14, 2009
Radio Friendly Unit Shifter '09
After a short but still seemingly interminable wait, Catch & Mr. Ducker have just released a sequel to my favorite tape of last year.
Get this now cause it bangs like a million old Columbia House Music Club catalogues come alive. 36 quality songs from your earnest youth, mixed with love and precision, all for a virtual penny. Owe nothing, pay no one, take shelter.
Posted by caps at 11:42 PM | Comments (0)
Tuesday PM
Yo. Late as hell. I'm beat. With Finny working late these days I've been cooking a lot - most weeknights and probably 4 nights out of 7. Last night I made oven-fried chicken for dinner (b/w "Roast Balsamic Asparagus" and "Roast Potatoes and Yams") and tonight I made barbecue baby back ribs and collard greens and red onions and buttermilk biscuits and broccoli. Now I'm posted up on the couch eating cold strawberries. I'm tired, yall.
1. Whoa. An ex-Navy SEAL from Texas had his dog killed and the story is kinda fucking crazy. Poor dude, poor dog. Glad he didn't kill those fuckers though.
2. Tweenbot crosses Washington Square Park.
3. Andrew Sullivan's been razor-sharp lately with reference to the unspeakable folly of our nation's drug war. Particularly moved to action by his "Cannabis Closet" entries: here, here, here.
Elsewhere, Glenn Greenwald's recent report on decriminalization in Portugal is also a must-read on the subject, as is the Financial Times' caustic and clear-sighted editorial piece of last week. When we get in power - "we" being my age cohort - we will end this war. Just ask the smart and brave people at Students for a Sensible Drug Policy!
Posted by caps at 11:09 PM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2009
Thursday PM
Buster Bison meets Mister Met above. Today was Opening Day for the Buffalo Bisons, new AAA affiliates of the New York Mets. The crowd of 10,000 booed Governor Patterson as he threw out the first ball.
1. New header for April up top by Alex! Check out his latest work - for Vacation, a new all-vinyl record store in LA - over here.
2. Finny unearthed this classic ODB for President t-shirt on eBay. "Tag missing. Lots of stains."
3. Have I linked to The Rapture Index before? If not, my bad.
4. An exhaustive catalogue of Grateful Dead stage banter.
Ok. I didn't get to the crusade or the mixes but I'll be back at it tomorrow. Go Sabres and - gulp - Flyers.
Posted by caps at 06:50 PM | Comments (0)
April 08, 2009
UPDATE
Sabres win, 3-1, in Toronto. They're still alive!
1. In the middle of the game, Finny got home from work with a belated Xmas-now-Easter present from her parents (my future IN-LAWS): SABRES SOX!
Am I a lucky son-in-law or WHAT?
2. Also during the game, friend of el stence and ace-up-north correspondent Jason wrote in with some kind words ("Dispatch From Vanekouver Island"), reproduced below in full. Pretty kindly for a Canucks fan, eh?
Hey Buddy,
Don't sweat the Sabres. At least you've got a good lady to tell you that it's the team not you (and GIANT BEER). Plus, your other interests have an epic spring/summer to flourish.
I've not been poking my foam finger in your face re:hackey because it's mean to kick a fan when it looks like there is little hope left. You wait, until the end. Us Winnipeggers all still remember that Housely < Hawerchuk. That's not the point here, just the old faithful shot in the arm, your fandom is contagious, and I can't hate the Sabres. If I find myself living in Toronto, I will be cheering for Buffalo.
You just can't expect a hockey team to adjust quickly to an emerging alien.
I'll leave you with a line from former Czech PM Vaclav Havel who wrote a trilogy of hilarious plays about a guy named Vanek.
"Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out."
There's a reason they call them seasons.
You get seasoned.
Tougher.
JPQ
--
Cowichan, literally translated from Coast Salish into "The Warm Land"
Thanks, Jason, and thanks to everybody readin this, and thanks to the Sabres for making 80 out of 82 games meaningful, and thanks to Finny for putting up with me. Oh yeah and thanks to TO for being in Buffalo for workouts and putting my man Laflures on blast via Twitter.
Posted by caps at 11:40 PM | Comments (0)
Wednesday Evening
That up there is a cork bulletin board in my office. Here's a closeup of the Sabres schedule section:
See all those black L's? Those stand for losses, and there's too damn many. That's why, as I sit here on my couch with a 24 oz can of Miller Lite, waiting for Sabres game 80 of 82, the Sabres have a 1.2% percentage chance of making the playoffs.
How the fuck did it come to this? We started off with such promise. Well, we hit a rough spot in November, but for a minute, we were cool. There was a brief, shining moment in early-to-mid October when the Bills were in first, the Sabres were in first, and Obama was winning the polls.
Of course, of those three, I'll take the Obama win any year. But to quote Peter Tosh: Why must I cry these tears from my eyes? I mean, Jesus H. Lord Almighty, dudes. Are you meaning to tell me, Buffalo Sabres, that there's a 98.8% chance that for two years in a row, you won't make the damn playoffs? You won't bail out the Bills' staggering decade of non-playoffs? That there won't be another meaningful hockey game til October 09, at which point I'll be old and gray?
I think, sadly, that's what I'm being told. All year long, as opposed to recent years round here, I've been relatively quiet about the old Sabres. I didn't lose the fanaticism - far from it, motherfuckers! Even with this ticky-tack squad, I have missed maybe five games all year. That means I've watched a staggering 75 hockey games this long winter. I've probably read a million words online and in print about this team, too. In the meantime, maybe I coulda made ten mixtapes. Maybe I coulda wrote a billion blog posts. BUT NO. My dumb ass kept it real, and keeping it real went wrong for the second year running.
I didn't chirp too much about the Sabres in this space this year, relatively speaking, cause it was a bitch of a year in many ways. The team started out strong, crashed, rebuilt, then crashed again, weighed under by injuries and youth and mediocrity. But I stayed a fan, goddammit, I'm still a fan, and here I sit, tapping this out while they honor Brad May for playing in his thousandth game.
Finny tells me I deserve better from this team, and she's right. All Sabres fans deserve the Cup - and a real one, not the ones made out of beer cans that I was building a couple years back. But regardless of what I "deserve," this is what I've got - and for another year, there's a 98.8% chance it won't be much.
Fuck it though. I had fun. They didn't win enough, but they won a bunch. The comeback win against Dallas the night before my birthday. The win on New Years. The two wins I saw in Newark, with legions of red-clad minions of Satan clenching their fists and chanting "KILL... KILL... KILL" during Sabres power plays. (One of those nights was dollar hot dog night at The Rock, and, as P and Nash will tell you, I almost killed myself eating nine devil dogs.) The win against San Jose after the tragic plane crash in Clarence, with Rivet tying it up with 3 seconds left.
While I want big changes to the team come summer - and I think I'll get them - the bottom line is that my Sabres got me through another winter. Most of the time, I was pretty damn happy. (Listening to Rick Jeanneret - legendary Sabres announcer and invaluable auditory link to a type of talking that recedes further daily - helps.)
Ok. Game's about to come on. 1.2% is better than nothing, so like I've been saying for twenty-plus years: Go Sabres!
PS: New header coming tomorrow! And a cavalcade of links, including new mixes. And a new crusade. More soon.
P called me out on the "more soon" thing after an e-mail the other day - you always say that, he said! - and while he's undoubtedly right, so am I! More soon!
Posted by caps at 12:11 PM | Comments (0)
April 04, 2009
Me and Sammy: 4-17
Posted by caps at 05:14 PM | Comments (0)
April 02, 2009
Hijinx: Likely To Ensue
Dudes. This picture of Obama, Medvedev, Berlusconi and Jintao from the concluding day of the G-20 Summit in London is absolutely incredible.
Me from Twitter:
@capsworth: Like the poster for the most boring buddy movie ever.
@capsworth: In a WORLD wracked by RECESSION, the summit was *SUPPOSED* to be HISTORICAL... INSTEAD, it was... HYSTERICAL. [cue "Everybody Dance Now"]
Call it "Three Men and a Jintao."
Like Evan said: "G-20 = the new spring break!"
Posted by caps at 12:36 PM | Comments (0)